Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Streetsblog Capitol Hill

Streetsblog Q&A: Bush DOT Chief Endorses National Transport Goals

Mary Peters, who spent four years as George W. Bush's Federal Highway Administrator before taking over the U.S. DOT in 2006, has entered the simmering debate over whether Washington should set performance goals for the nation's transportation system. Her answer: "Absolutely."

4591.jpgFormer Transportation Secretary Mary Peters (Photo: IU)

Peters, who is now working as a private consultant in her home state of Arizona, endorsed the concept of national transportation goals in a wide-ranging interview yesterday with Streetsblog Capitol Hill.

Peters' call for federal leadership on performance standards was far from an endorsement of Congress' leading proposal on the issue, which would require states to focus on lowering carbon emissions and increasing transit usage, among other goals. 

But at a time when other infrastructure players are unconvinced that Washington should set the bar at all for state DOTs -- warning that goals could become "diktats" -- and when many conservatives would prefer to withdraw from the system entirely, the former Transportation Secretary's support for a strong federal role was notable.

When asked what performance goals she would set, Peters cited more efficient freight movement and safety, two items that are included in the "national objectives" bill introduced by Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) and Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ).

Peters' tenure, despite being dominated by a highway-centric perspective, had some bright spots for transportation reform. Her Urban Partnership program offered the incentive money that first sparked New York City's push for congestion pricing, a cause that Peters continues to champion after leaving office.

"Whoever named them 'freeways' should be shot, because they're not free," Peters quipped. She directly answered critics who depicted variable road tolling as an elitist tool and predicted that New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg "hasn't given up" on congestion pricing.

But a move towards national performance goals can't happen without a new long-term transportation bill -- which Peters agrees should wait until infrastructure can command more of Congress' attention.

"The leadership in the House and Senate is not engaged on this issue," Peters said, favorably commenting on the Obama administration's proposed 18-month extension of existing transport law. "It's better to have a longer-term extension, but during that period, to talk about the things I'm advocating."

What exactly is Peters advocating? More details on what brought her back to the capital are coming up later today.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Friday Video: The London Neighborhood Where Bikes Outnumber Cars

...and how they got to that impressive milestone.

July 11, 2025

Friday’s Headlines Battle Galactus

Like the Marvel supervillain, U.S. interstate highway system seems to eat up everything in his path. A new book explores how to stop it.

July 11, 2025

New Report Shows Pedestrian Fatalities Drop — But Experts Say Not Enough

The Governors Highway Safety Association report showed a 4 percent drop in the number of pedestrian deaths last year, putting a slow on a dangerous trend — but advocates say the drop isn't nearly big enough.

July 11, 2025

Talking Headways Podcast: Localities Subsidize the State DOT

Adie Tomer of Brookings on how to improve regional coordination around infrastructure.

July 10, 2025

Five of the Ugliest Transportation Policies In the ‘Big, Beautiful’ Bill

Here's a rundown of some of the transportation provisions in the Republicans' reconciliation package, and what they might mean for your community.

July 10, 2025

Viva La Thursday’s Headlines

Why is French transit ridership up 10 percent since before the pandemic, while American transit ridership is down 23 percent?

July 10, 2025
See all posts